This all depends on the bass response you are getting from your particular guitar body size vs. what you want to get from your guitar.
To my ear, the new 800-series' voicing is definitely biased toward more bass and mid-bass response than its predecessor. So, for example, today's 814 with elixir PBs in light (12-53) sounds closer to yesteryear's 816 with medium PBs, IMHO. But if the 816 is too bass heavy for one's taste, one can try the HD set: the HD's "lights" on the EAD will produce less bass compared to medium gauge, and the thicker G and B will further bias the balance toward thicker-sounding trebles. Or try the regular light-gauge PBs and see how that sounds to you as some folks like these on the GS, whereas others feel its lesser tension diminishes its volume and girth too much. Or if you want to bias toward more bass (for example on the 812's smaller body), then the medium-light set is worth giving a whirl.
Even further, trying an 80/20 set changes everything as these are brighter sounding than the PBs: effective in "livening up" or adding "sparkle" to a guitar than one may feel sounds a bit too dark for their taste. Then try the diff gauges to shift the balance this way or that.
And this is only Elixir. Others will hopefully chime in on their fav brand, but I personally stick with Elixirs for their consistent tone throughout their (long) usable life.
If I may offer a specific example, I have a GS-bod that's dark and thick sounding ...which I like on the whole, but would prefer a bit more treb response from it. I tried the HDs in PB and it helped attenuate a bit of the bottom (predicitably with thinner bass strings), while the treb strings "stepped forward" a bit ...especially noticible when strummed as the overall string balance is better to me now than it was with the Elixir PBs in the regular medium gauge. And on next string change, I will likely try the HD set but in 80/20 to see how that sounds. It's all fine tuning, where only
your ears can offer the right answer.
Edward
